About the Seminar:

AAJ’s Annual Jazz Fest Seminar returns on May 4-5, 2017 with an agenda tailored specifically for the motor vehicle and spinal cord injury plaintiff attorney. Headlined by Dorothy Clay Sims and Patrick Malone, this seminar will cover topics such as Cross-Examining the Difficult Witness using the Rules of the Road™​, Deposition Strategy and Focus Grouping the Motor Vehicle Case, The Importance of Research, How a Traumatic Brain Injury will Impact your Case, Preparing for the PTSD Case, Building Technological Advances into Life Care Plans, a Live ReWalk™ Demonstration, and more! Plus, this faculty includes a medical professional who will conduct one-on-one consultations with attendees throughout the seminar to examine medical documents of any current cases. With this all-star faculty, multiple live demonstrations, and scheduled networking opportunities, this seminar has something for everyone. Come for the education, stay for the music!

Registration Fees:

AAJ Members: $895

Register for both the Jazz Fest Seminar and the Marketing and Management Seminar and save $100! Discount not available online, please call 800-622-1791 to take advantage of this special offer.
Members of the Motor Vehicle Collision, Highway, and Premises Liability Section and the Spinal Cord Litigation Group save $50!

Joseph E. “Jed” Cain is an accomplished trial lawyer that has obtained multi-million-dollar jury verdicts throughout the state of Louisiana. He has dedicated his career to representing injured workers and their families. In 2014, Jed was awarded the F. Scott Baldwin Award by the American Association for Justice (AAJ). He is also a graduate of the Trial Lawyers College. Jed is the founder of Cain’s River, a digital community devoted to preserving the art of small town storytelling. Herman Herman & Katz LLC is located in New Orleans, LA.

Robert L. Collins, moderator

Robert L. Collins concentrates his practice on mass disaster, truck and bus crash, product liability and negligence litigation as well as property owners’ first party bad faith insurance litigation. Mr. Collins is the author of the Litigating Bus Crash Cases Chapter of West Publishing’s Litigating Truck Accident Cases treatise. Mr. Collins is the past-chair of the State Bar of Texas District 12 Grievance Committee and a former member of the State Bar Court Rules Committee. He is a member of the American Association for Justice’s (AAJ) President’s Club. He is also the past-chair of the AAJ Motor Vehicle, Highways, and Premises Liability Section and the AAJ Trucking Litigation Group, he also serves on the Executive Board of AAJ’s Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, and is the co-founding chair of the AAJ Bus Litigation Group. Mr. Collins is currently a member of AAJ’s Insurance Law, Motor Vehicle Collision, Highway and Premises Liability, Products Liability, and Professional Negligence Sections as well as the Section on Toxic, Environmental, and Pharmaceutical Torts. He is a member of AAJ PAC. The firm of Robert L. Collins & Associates is located on South Padre Island and in Houston, Austin, and McAllen, TX.

Andrew A. Fraser

Andrew A. Fraser is a Certified Civil Trial Attorney that concentrates his practice on personal injury. He has been named a Super Lawyer in NJ Monthly Magazine since 2006 and is listed by the National Trial Lawyers Association (NTLA) as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer in New Jersey. He is also New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) Instructor and is on the Board of Governors for the New Jersey Association for Justice (NJAJ). He is a member of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) and has spoken nationally on maximizing verdicts for disc injury cases at the AAJ National Convention in Los Angeles, The Trial Lawyers Association in California and Atlanta and the 360 Advocacy Conference in Las Vegas. Mr. Fraser is a partner with Laddey, Clark and Ryan, LLP, located in Sparta, NJ.

Stephen J. Herman, course advisor

Stephen J. Herman concentrates his practice in personal injury, brain injury, motor vehicle, dangerous products, offshore maritime, contamination, and professional liability litigation. In 2010 he was appointed to serve as one of two co-liason counsel for all business, individuals, and local governments in In re: Oil Spill by the Oil Rig "Deepwater Horizon" in the Gulf of Mexico, on April 20, 2010 (MDL No. 2179). He teaches complex litigation at both Tulane Law School and the Loyola University School of Law. Mr. Herman is a fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the Litigation Counsel of American, is a past president of the Louisiana Association for Justice, and sits on the boards of the American Association for Justice, the Roscoe Pound Institute, AAJ’s National College of Advocacy, and the Public Justice Foundation. Mr. Herman donates to AAJ’s PAC. He has been named in Best Lawyers, Louisiana’s Super Lawyers, Law Dragon Top 500 Lawyers, National Law Journal Elite, Chambers USA, Who’s Who, was a N.O. City Business Leadership-in-the-Law Recipient in 2010, and was a finalist for the Trial Lawyers for Public Justice (TLPJ) Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2005. He is the author of America and the Law: Challenges for the 21st Century (Gravier House Press) and has published works in TRIAL magazine, the Tulane Law Review, The Federal Lawyers, and elsewhere. He is also the author of three novels: The Gordian Knot (Gravier House Press 1999), The Sign of Four (Gravier House Press 1999), and A Day in the Life of Timothy Stone (Gravier House Press 1999). Mr. Herman is a partner with the AAJ Leaders Forum member firm Herman, Herman & Katz, L.L.C., located in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Karen Koehler

Karen Koehler concentrates her practice on plaintiff injury and wrongful death cases. Previously, Ms. Koehler was an Adjunct Professor of trial advocacy at the University of Washington Law School for eight years. She is an active member of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) and a member of the AAJ Motor Vehicle Collision, Highway and Premises Liability Section, Spinal Cord Injury Litigation Group which she co-chairs, and Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group. She is the co-author of the original Litigating Minor Injury Soft Tissue cases and Litigating Major Automobile Injury and Death Cases (AAJ Press/Thomson Reuters). Ms. Koehler is the past President of the Washington Association for Justice, Executive Director of the Spinal Cord Injury Association of Washington and runs the Female Trial Attorneys Program. Her blog, “The Velvet Hammer” was listed in the top 100 American Bar Association (ABA) law blawg for many years. Stritmatter Kessler Whelan Koehler Moore Kahler, an AAJ Leaders Forum member, is located in Washington state.

Kenneth Levinson

Kenneth Levinson is a passionate advocate for accident survivors and child safety. For more than 20 years, he has dedicated his practice to helping disenfranchised clients against corporate giants with unlimited resources. Mr. Levinson was named by Illinois Super Lawyers magazine as one of the top attorneys in Illinois for 2010–2016; and made the list of the Illinois Super Lawyers Top 100 Lawyers. Mr. Levinson was appointed chair of the Education Committee of the American Association for Justice’s (AAJ) Interstate Trucking Litigation Group. He was also elected vice chair of AAJ’s Motor Vehicle Collision, Highway, and Premises Liability Section and is a member of the Sole Practitioner and Small Firm Section. He is the co- author of the latest edition of Litigating Major Automobile Injury and Death Cases, published by AAJ Press/Thomson Reuters, and he generously donates to AAJ PAC. Levinson & Stefani, an AAJ Leaders Forum member, is located in Chicago, IL.

Patrick A. Malone

Patrick A. Malone is a patient safety advocate. Formerly an award-winning investigative medical journalist and Pulitzer Prize finalist, Mr. Malone graduated from Yale Law School and is the co-author of the original Rules of the RoadTM: A Plaintiff Lawyer’s Guide to Proving Liability (Trial Guides 2009) and Winning Medical Malpractice Cases with the Rules of the RoadTM Technique (Trial Guides 2012). Mr. Malone is past president of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. He is a member of the American Association for Justice’s (AAJ) Board of Governors; Press Advisory Board; Public Affairs Committee; Publications Committee; Federal Tort Liability & Military Advocacy Section; Professional Negligence Section; Juror Bias Litigation Group; and Birth Trauma Litigation Group. Patrick Malone & Associates, P.C., an AAJ Leaders Forum member, is located in Washington D.C.

Dorothy Clay Sims

Dorothy Clay Sims is nationally-renowned expert in medical expert cross examination. Ms. Sims co-authored the Thomson Reuters text, Litigating Minor Impact Soft Tissue Cases and her book, Exposing Deceptive Defense Doctors (James Publishing, 2009) was a best seller for three years in a row. After representing coalminers in Kentucky early in her career, Ms. Sims began representing workers who were injured and denied medical care. She co-founded the Florida Workers’ Advocates, served as the first female president of the Florida Bar Association (FBA) Worker's Compensation Section, and is a past president of the Marion County Bar Association (MCBA). Ms. Sims is a member of the American Association for Justice’s Press Advisory Board and Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group. The Law Office of Dorothy Clay Sims is located in Ocala, FL.

Kent Spence

Kent Spence concentrates his practice on civil rights, personal injury, wrongful death, industrial accident, oil field accident and trucking accident. Mr. Spence is a past President of the Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association and he is a permanent board member. Mr. Spence is a member of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) and generously donated to AAJ PAC. Mr. Spence is a partner with The Spence Law Firm, LLC, an AAJ Leaders Forum member, located in Jackson, WY.

Kenneth L. Shigley, course advisor

Kenneth L. Shigley focuses on commercial transportation litigation, including catastrophic interstate and intermodal trucking cases. Mr. Shigley is the former President of the State Bar of Georgia. He is currently the chair of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) Motor Vehicle Collision, Highway, and Premises Liability Section and past-chair of the Institute for Continuing Legal Education in Georgia Board of Trustees. One of only 18 Georgia lawyers who have earned double board certification in Civil Trial Advocacy and Civil Pretrial Advocacy from the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification, he is the lead author of Georgia Law of Torts: Trial Preparation & Practice (Thomson Reuters West, 2010-15), which was quoted as an authority by the Supreme Court of Georgia in a 2014 case decision. He also generously donates to AAJ PAC. Shigley Law Firm, LCC, an AAJ Leaders Forum member, is located in Atlanta, GA.

Wade F. Suthard, course advisor

Wade F. Suthard is focused on representing injured victims of New Jersey motor vehicle accidents and interstate trucking accidents. He is a member of the New Jersey Association of Justice’s Board of Governors and co-chair of the Auto Litigation Committee. Mr. Suthard is also a member of the American Association of Justice (AAJ) Trucking Litigation Group; Sole Practitioner and Small Firm Section; and Motor Vehicle Collision, Highway and Premises Liability Section. Mr. Suthard generously donates to AAJ PAC. The Law Offices of Wade Suthard, PC, is located in Elizabeth, NJ.

Andrew Zimmerman

Andrew Zimmerman first began researching legal experts in 2006 while attending Saint John's University. After graduating with a Bachelor’s in 2008, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Guard; serving in the Military Intelligence Corp. Upon returning from two tours overseas and with a strong analytical background, Andrew again worked with Attorney Dorothy Sims on developing and perfecting a process to validate experts and their credentials. Still serving in the Army Guard, he recently co-founded the Zimmerman & Sanchez Information Group to widen and continue the effort of researching legal experts. Zimmerman & Sanchez Information Group, LLC is located in Tampa, FL.

Housing:

AAJ has a limited number of rooms available at The Roosevelt New Orleans, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel, 130 Roosevelt Way, New Orleans, Louisiana. The special group rate is $309.00 per night, plus state and local taxes. To reserve a room, please CLICK HERE or call 1-800-WALDORF and ask for the American Association for Justice rate. This room block will expire on Sunday, April 2, 2017.

Call us. We'll provide you with names and phone numbers of previous attendees of AAJ Education programs who will be pleased to answer your questions. Or, if you prefer to speak with a course advisor or faculty member, we will arrange that as well. Call 800.622.1791 or 202.965.3500, ext. 8612.

MCLE/NCA Requirements:

AAJ has filed for MCLE credit in the appropriate jurisdictions. Registered participants can receive 16 CLE* credits depending on the jurisdiction and will be applied to your participation in AAJ’s professional recognition programs. AAJ Education programs are routinely accredited by states requiring continuing legal education. CLE questions may be addressed by reading the FAQ calling the CLE Coordinator at 800-622-1791, ext. 8335 or 202-965-3500, ext. 8335.​

Click here to learn more about AAJ's Professional Recognition Programs, Achievement Recognition Program (ARP) and Advanced Studies in Trial Advocacy (ASTA), or call 800.622.1791 or 202.965.3500, ext. 8335.

The Achievement Recognition Program (ARP) provides Advocate, Fellow, and Diplomate recognition to AAJ members. To gain ARP credits, submit a certificate of attendance for every seminar, college, and convention you attend.

* Number of credits may vary depending on calculation method used by individual state accreditation agencies. AAJ is a State Bar of California MCLE-approved provider.

Special Assistance:

AAJ Education will make every effort to ensure that its meetings are held in facilities that are fully accessible to persons with mobility disabilities. If you plan to attend our program and need special facilities or assistance relating to a disability, please call 800-622-1791 or 202-965-3500, ext. 8612.

Cancellation Policy:

Cancellations received on or before April 27, 2017 will result in a refund less a 10% administrative charge. Cancellations received in writing April 28 – May 2, 2017 will result in a voucher for the entire registration fee, which may be applied toward any AAJ Education college, seminar, or webinar held within one calendar year of the date of issue. Requests for refunds or vouchers within 48 hours of the start of a program will not be honored. AAJ is not responsible for any room cancellation fees or other travel fees which may result from your cancellation. Cancellation requests must be made in writing. Fax or email your cancellation letter to the registrar at 202-625-7084 or education@justice.org.

Contribute to the AAJ Education Fund:

Please consider a donation to the AAJ Education Fund 501(c)(3). Contributions support educational programs and activities to preserve and protect the civil justice system. Learn more>>

Terms and Conditions:

The American Association for Justice reserves the right to, in its sole discretion, refuse entrance to the event and/or remove any individual from the event whose behavior is disruptive and/or is not consistent with the character and purpose of the event. All American Association for Justice badges are the property of the American Association for Justice and must be returned upon request.

By registering for this AAJ Education program, you agree to receive electronic, written, and telephonic communication from AAJ staff regarding the program and to have your name, firm, city, and state included on the participant and exhibitor/sponsor roster. AAJ may also need to contact you to service your membership record or to provide you with information about your membership, products and services, and advocacy and legislative updates. By providing your contact information, including phone number, fax number, and email address, you consent and give permission for AAJ to contact you by any of those means, which may include calls to your mobile phone, faxes, or emails. You may contact AAJ at any time to change your preferences..

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